Sexual assault charges against an Augusta man previously convicted in another sexual assault case were dismissed Wednesday, Oct. 26, as part of a plea agreement.
Terrence Clifford, 56, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Richmond County Superior Court to aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and firearm violations in exchange for a prison sentence of five years in prison with probation to follow. He will get credit for the four years he has been incarcerated.
Clifford was arrested in September 2018 on charges that included rape and aggravated sodomy. Because the victim said she said she met with Clifford to have sex for drugs, the state was dropping the sexual assault charges, Assistant District Attorney Deshala Dixon told the judge Wednesday.
The victim also told a sheriff investigator that Clifford became aggressive after smoking crack cocaine and pulled a gun and forced her to have sex, Dixon said. She was able to identify Clifford from a photo lineup.
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Clifford’s history includes a 1983 burglary, 1988 burglary, 1992 battery, 2014 battery, and a 2002 case in which Clifford pleaded guilty to burglary and aggravated assault with intent to rape. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation for the 2002 case.
In 2002, Clifford was indicted on burglary, aggravated assault, and rape charges. After his 2018 arrest on the new charges, a prosecutor previously assigned to the case filed notice of intent to present evidence at trial of the 2002 case, and she filed notice of intent to seek the maximum possible sentence to be served without parole if Clifford was convicted.
Rape is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
The recidivist notice was withdrawn by Dixon.
Judge Jesse Stone accepted the plea negotiation and sentenced Clifford to five years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
